Hanging with History

40. James Stuart I; the Wisest Fool

December 24, 2020 Harald Hansen Season 1 Episode 40
Hanging with History
40. James Stuart I; the Wisest Fool
Show Notes

James Stuart VI of Scotland becomes James I of England after the death of Elizabeth.  We discuss the causes of the English Civil War and some of the ways the Stuart kings may have contributed to that upheaval.  A Valkyrie episode.  This is mainly a narrative history of James I reign in England though we do spend some time with his grand romantic gesture in the “rescue” of Anne of Denmark and the witches that caused the disaster.  The poisoning of Thomas Overbury, the legally established virginity of Francis Howard are also explored.  We end with George Villiers running the government.  This is background for later episodes where the division between crown and country will be stressed.  In a more serious segment we explore Puritan psychology, an advanced mode of thought for the 17th century, one that explains a lot of their later success.  This will be developed and built upon over several episodes.